In Denver: Falling Rock Tap House

Ya gotta love a place with over 2200 bottles of beer on the wall.

And a digital timer on the wall too, measuring the countdown to the 2009 GABF kickoff party on October 6th.

These people really love their beer over here: There are over 75 beers always on draught with a good showing of Colorado micros ande from all over the US. Belgium, Germany, and Czech Republic are represented too, just goes to show you this truly is a league of nations. What about bottles you say? Over a 100 always available.

You know how once you have an idea in yer `ed it's hard to get rid of it? Well I've had the Odell Brewing Company's 5 Barrel Pale Ale in me `ed since March. Seeing it on draught here made me want it for my first brew of the night. And now I've got it in me belly, too. This one is specially brewed up in Fort Collins, CO using multiple (five maybe?) barrels, four hop additions during the boil, and hop additions in the hop back and during fermentation--hence the totally oblique naming reference. Strangely, it's a very mellow PA at only 36 IBUs and not too crazy at all.

The night was still young, and a new beer on draught will always catch my attention. One in particular captured my heart: Avatar Jasmine IPA. This beer from the Elysian Brewing Company of Seattle, has a faint fragrance of Jasmine flowers which are added to the boil and whirlpool during brewing. The subtle hints of Jasmine are in the taste, too, along with the essential hop bitterness being an IPA after all. To me, there is a definite clover honey aspect on the tongue as well--like a mellower version of Bell's Hopslam Ale. Now this is one great tasting IPA. I'm here to tell you, try it if you have the chance.

Barkeeps attentive and sweet like the beer.

On Blake Street a very, and I mean very short walk from Coors Field.

Highly recommended.

A quick peek at Four Peaks

On our way to visit L in Chandler, we returned to Four Peaks Brewing Company for a quick one--just to squelch the heat, you know?

The brewery is in a converted dairy. As you can see this is a large operation--they bottle Kiltlifter® Scotish-Style Ale, Hot Knot IPA®, and 8th Street Ale® for purchase around the state but not beyond. The bar is absolutely huge with perhaps seating for 100 beer lovers.


This time, I opted for the Hop Knot which was great with just the right amount of slightly off-center hop madness: Citrusy and refreshing. Oatmeal Stout not tried before ended my afternoon. Not oily, hints of chocolate that lingered long after the liquid faded away.

Alas, my camera croaked an ``I'm done.'' in here.

Four Peaks and their beers have won multiple medals and it's not hard to see why.

Papago Brewing

Moving Z into his dorm room yesterday felt like working in a salt mine where fortunes are measured in teaspoons with payscales graduated in grains.

Dare I say this made S and I way more than ready, in fact downright giddy, over the notion of sitting down and relaxing over a cold beer or two.

The astute reader of this blog may recall that on our last trip to the Phoenix area, there just wasn't enough time to check out all the cool beer bars, brewpubs, and such that we knew about and ended up as sad Misses.

This time we wanted to fill in the blanks so to speak, and Papago Brewing, while being a bit away from our locus in Tempe, was in our beer sights for a visit. So it was with our beer goggles firmly set, that we lashed out to Scottsdale to seek our beer fortunes.

Papago rests its laurels in a nondescript adobe plaza not unlike any other you might see all over this area of Arizona.

















Passing through industrial strength double doors leads you inside to the inviting tap room.


As you can see by the tap list, Papago pours their own beers and draws others predominantly from the veins of domestic microbreweries--beers that are rarely if ever seen in our parts of NEPA.

Keen eyes may see a handle with a scrawled label, there were several, labeled BJs IPL. Yep, you guessed right: BJ's India Pale Lager. Now isn't that something? I just had to try it as my first beer and let me tell you it is no slouching compromise in an attempt to meld a lager and an ale. It brings the attributes of a lager that I love, namely a smooth mouthfeel and bright coloring and all the attibutes of a IPA like essential hop aroma and zesty flavor. Coupled with that, in this beer, was a freshness of taste like no other, that was confirmed by a new beer buddy at the bar Chuck.

Chuck, of Hop Disciples of Denver fame and long-time homebrewer (from 1966--way before it was legal!) informed me that BJ's in Chandler (a chain brewpub) brews the IPL for distribution right here in Phoenix and for nowhere else as it's not on the ``approved recipe list'' from the Mothership. This beer alone is worth a side trip to try if you're in the area. I don't know how long it's on for so you better get up there.

Along with this impressive array of draught beers goes a bottle collection of perhaps 200. Again, many imported selections were evident but the true love here is la microbrew domestica. Frankly, this is how it should be in my estimation. I'm all for diversity in beer styles, but anything under the sun that's produced anywhere in the world these days, has and is being produced right here in the good old US of A and probably better!













And laurels there are indeed as evidenced by the two GABF medals hanging over the backbar. One for Papago El Robusto Porter and another for the Papago Brewing Hop Dog IPA.


The barmaid Ashton was sympathetic to S and her choice of a beer and was very accomodating allowing her to taste various (read: at least ten) of the various draughts before settling on a Pilsner.

This is a place where quick friends can be made over a beer and old friends can come to catch up. I highly recommend it for the atmosphere, beer, and overall feel. They do serve food as well but we didn't try anthing from the kitchen on this visit. They offer free Wi-Fi access.

With Z certain to be in Tempe for another year or two, coming back to Papago Brewing is as sure a thing as the Sun greeting us this morning.

107

It's supposed to peak at 107 today, which they tell me is the temperature taken under a shade tree somewhere. I'm not certain what the temperature would be in the direct sunlight, but I'm certain it would feel interesting.

Did you ever feel the waft of heat gently across your face when you opened an oven after baking? Well that's what it feels like.

But still infinitely bearable (it's a dry heat after all) with some chilly refreshment at hand.

These may be the warmest temperatures I've ever experienced.

What do do? Well we have some move-in, thirst-building, bidness to attend to and after that we'll just see what occurs naturally.

There was some thought of rock-climbing but a peek at the thermometer makes that unlikely for the next few days.

It's 108, but it's a dry heat

I rolled into Tempe a few hours ago after a breathtaking run down from Oklahoma City. Met up with my lovely S, who greated me with open arms and a Four Peaks Kilt Lifter® Scotish Ale from the bar which she served personally in the pool! It really doesn't get any better than this.

The Path to Somewhere and Nowhere in Particular

Here's a rough idea of the route I'll be following beginning today.

The main point of this trip is to take Z off to AZ for college. (Yeah! No more kids to send to college!)

Secondarily, it will be a chance to relax and clear my noodle of the year's pressures.

And at the same time try out some of the beers I've had a chance to savor at their source.

I have a new birthday toy (or two) that I'm gonna be using to blog along the way, so stay tuned. The fun is about to commence!


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Road Trip

I've prayed to the beer gods for some modicum of relief from the place I've found myself recently. A new direction perhaps?

I had a dream, and a slurred voice from somewhere awoke me at dawn: Son, pull your boots on and get in your car. Travel West, to the end of the Road.

What you seek, there you will find.

This is not what the voice said but just a tribute.

Hey Tazio, what's in the Beer Meister?

Dude. The void has been filled. Finally.

The picture is complete. The Fat Lady has sung her Beer Aria.

Today, I cleaned my beer lines and beer line, and filled my beer miser and beer belly with two of my most favorite of beers: Victory Hop Devil and Weyerbacher Autmnfest Ale. One for the men. And another one for the man-cave.

Craft Beer doing well this Recession

I tend to agree with these experts: As long as craft brewers stay innovative and creative, they'll always be able to keep their products fresh and enjoy the cult followings like indie bands have long had.

Check out the foam on the news anchor: I wonder what kind of beer flows from her cans?

Home Bar Construction

What have I been doing lately?

Three years and 10,000, wait maybe 20,000 excuses later, the man-cave is finally nearing habitation. Or is it hibernation.

It's at least ready enough to serve beer. As long as you can stand and drink at the same time that is.

Photographic evidence you say? Hang on.

Hop Crop

There's still about a month before harvest. Ok you hopheads what variety of hops are these?

Corney Sankey Eye

There May Be Hope for the English Pub Yet!

Here's a good article by Henry Shukman that paints a fairly upbeat picture about the survival of the English Pub.

He make makes me feel like I should go and visit.

I wonder why there aren't there any pubs like these in NEPA?

Summer Hiatus

Drink in May and go away.

Well I've got the go away part down pat, but I'm still sipping the fine brews on into the Summer!

Actually, most summers, it seems with the barbecues, vacations, et al, this space gets dusty mitey.

I'll try to post some interesting tid-bits as I discover them, though.